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Monday, July 14, 2014

Your Argument is Invalid

A friend posted a link to this article the other day on Facebook. I will quote the entire article, lest it be taken down and lost:

On December 30, 1994, a man walked into a Planned Parenthood clinic in Massachusetts, shouted "This is what you get! You should pray the rosary!" and shot the receptionist to death.

So with the support of local law enforcement, Massachusetts passed a law prohibiting protests within 35 feet of abortion clinics.

Yesterday, the United States Supreme Court struck that law down. Today, women in Massachusetts are wondering whether, at their next medical appointment, they'll end up face to face with people who shout, spit, and threaten -- all while calling themselves "pro-life Christians."

Boston Archbishop Sean O'Malley has the power to set a very different example. Yes, he's well-known for his opposition to abortion -- but also for his thoughtful and pastoral approach to church leadership.

Cardinal O'Malley should immediately call on Massachusetts Catholics to voluntarily refrain from holding protests outside abortion clinics -- and remind the nation that, no matter what you think about abortion, there's nothing Christian about harassment and intimidation. Sign the petition:Cardinal O'Malley, please speak out against harassment and intimidation at abortion clinics. By calling on Catholics to cease clinic protests, or at least voluntarily refrain from coming within 35 feet, you could set a powerful example that helps prevent a climate of hatred and violence.

It would seem our "Pro-Choice" friends here are using falsehoods and logical fallacies here. Let's clear things up. The fallacies are pointed out in this re-creation:

RED HERRING:On December 30, 1994, a man walked into a Planned Parenthood clinic in Massachusetts, shouted "This is what you get! You should pray the rosary!" and shot the receptionist to death.

STRAW MAN:So with the support of local law enforcement, Massachusetts passed a law prohibiting protests within 35 feet of abortion clinics. Yesterday, the United States Supreme Court struck that law down. Today, women in Massachusetts are wondering whether, at their next medical appointment, they'll end up face to face with people who shout, spit, and threaten -- all while calling themselves "pro-life Christians."

APPEAL TO AUTHORITY: Boston Archbishop Sean O'Malley has the power to set a very different example. Yes, he's well-known for his opposition to abortion -- but also for his thoughtful and pastoral approach to church leadership. Cardinal O'Malley should immediately call on Massachusetts Catholics to voluntarily refrain from holding protests outside abortion clinics -- and remind the nation that, no matter what you think about abortion, there's nothing Christian about harassment and intimidation. Sign the petition: Cardinal O'Malley, please speak out against harassment and intimidation at abortion clinics. By calling on Catholics to cease clinic protests, or at least voluntarily refrain from coming within 35 feet, you could set a powerful example that helps prevent a climate of hatred and violence.

Since all of the points made in the argument are dependent upon logical fallacies, one must assume the entire argument is, at its core, fundamentally flawed. Therefore, no part of the argument is valid..